Judges 2:10 "When all that genertion had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord..."
The question is: "Why?" Why didn't the next generation know the Lord? Why didn't the next generation know what the Lord had done for Israel? Maybe it was their fault. They weren't interested, they didn't care, they had their own life to live, they couldn't be bothered. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because the generation that came before them, the generation that knew the Lord, the generation that knew the work that He had done failed to pass on that knowledge. Maybe that generation did not do what Exodus 10:2 instructed them to do...to tell their sons and their sons sons the mighty things that God did. It may have been a little of both. That the next generation did not care to know and the current generation did care to pass it along. Sad. The end result was that the children of Israel did evil in God's sight.
As I read Newsweek this week and the death of Christian America, I can't help but think that we are headed this way. Why? Why is there a 10% reduction in people who claim to believe? Why is there an increase in atheism? Why is the next generation not getting it? Why are "church kids" not getting it? Because they don't care? Maybe. But why do they feel this way? Unfortunately, it may be because the current generation has failed to pass on what they know, what they they have been given, what they have experienced.
Our next generation is dropping off the faith chart like flies because believing parents have not discipled their kids, older men have not mentored younger men and older women have not mentored younger women. This has to stop. The next generation must know the Lord. They must know what He has done. The alternative is too devastating.
1 comment:
Glen,
The attrition of faith that we see in every generation to some extent is sad and even more, very startling. I have been very puzzled at times to see the response of the next generation to the faith of their parents. Of course, it can't be said that the first generation is always to blame as the expression is true "God does not have grandchildren" (unless you are an avid covenant presbyterian :) ) Randy pointed this out in his message on Sunday as well. However, I have worked with many families whose children were, if not apostate, lived a faith very different from that of their parents. Usually, it is very "watered down." If there was one thing that I did notice that caused me to look deeper at the cause, it was that these were children that were very educated in the faith. Or, should I say, inundated with the faith. I think much like the Israelites, they were dragged to church every time the doors were opened. They were faithful in going to church, Sunday school, youth group, prayer meetings, special meetings, rally services, etc. I say like the Israelites because the problem then and now was a subtle sort of legalism...relying on the motions of faith and not the substance of faith. I couldn't judge because I did not grow up in their homes, but I often wondered if they saw an authentic faith in their parents, or only a figurative attendance chart on the wall. They knew all the rules, like the Pharisees, but never sensed any love or excitement or faith! Dead faith full of lifeless works isn't very captivating for the next generation. I think that is why Moses words in Deuteronomy are very fitting (or were they Joshua's, hmmm?) that we are to instruct our children in the faith in all the different areas of life, not just at the temple, synagogue, or church, but when we rise and as we "walk along the way", etc. I guess we could say that education and authenticity must always go together. One without the other creates either a dead faith or "zeal without knowledge" and that can be dangerous too.
I like your blog
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